Big Island Horse Properties April 2023

I first reviewed the Big Islandʻs horse-friendly communities in 2009, the year I joined Hawaiʻi Life. Since then I have tried to keep track of listings with equestrian facilities or suitable horse properties, whether inside the communities like Waikiʻi Ranch, Puakea Bay Ranch, and Puu Lani Ranch, or outside of them. There is no easy way to simply search.

There are currently a handful of active real estate listings in these equestrian communities, and an upcoming opportunity for someone who wants to take over a ranch with a non-profit providing equine assisted learning and therapeutic programs.

Riders in the 2019 Old Hawaiʻi on Horseback historical recreation event at Waikiʻi Ranch polo field, with community clubhouse in the background.

Waikiʻi Ranch – Big Island Equestrian Gated Community in Upcountry Waimea

Although several of the gated communities on the Big Island have equestrian easements or horse facilities, upcountry Waikiʻi Ranch is the only Big Island community that has well-used riding trails, equestrian facilities, and neighbors who also have horses and enjoy both recreational and competitive riding.

Aerial photo of the only home currently for sale at Waikiʻi Ranch. In the foreground is the equestrian easement of trails you can hop on to ride around the entire community.

There is only one active residential listing at Waikii Ranch, a recently remodeled home of 4,300 sq ft on a little over 10 fenced acres, with ocean, sunset and coastline views. Asking price is $2,550,000. There are also four vacant lots listed at Waikiʻi Ranch if you prefer to build a home and barn to suit your own tastes and needs (subject, of course, to the CC&Rs and design rules for the community).

Puakea Bay Ranch – Oceanfront Community Near Hawi

While the percentage of homeowners at Puakea Bay Ranch who own horses is smaller than at Waikiʻi Ranch, there is a trail that circles the community, and a 10-acre lot will provide room to house horses and a riding area or arena, even after you build a house and swimming pool.

This Puakea Bay Ranch lot comes with an arena, round pen and small barn. Plus ocean views and 10 acres total for you to build a home.

There was only one property where the owner originally had 4 lots and built a true equestrian facility. The most recent sale of the property split that up, with the home and its two parcels selling in 2022, and the other two 10-acre lots now offered for sale separately. Of the four lots currently listed at Puakea Bay Ranch, the one that already has a head start as a horse property contains the round pen, arena, and small barn from the original equestrian estate.

View from the swimming pool of this newer Puakea Bay Ranch home for sale.

There are two active residential listings, an older home with established landscaping and a newer home with some xeriscape features. If you like the home you could add fencing and shelter for horses on the rest of the lot. Note that most of the year Puakea Bay Ranch is dry. Perfect for enjoying your swimming pool, but it does mean you need a barn or feed room to keep hay or cubes for your horses.

There is also a home for sale across the street (mauka of the highway) in Puakea Ranch, with 25 acres that would easily support a couple of horses and a barn and arena as well. I actually listed and sold this home for the original owners years ago, and always thought how great it would be to sit out on the covered lanai and watch my horses graze as the sun set into the ocean.

Puu Lani Ranch – Community Barn and Arena Near Kailua Kona

The concept at Puu Lani Ranch was to have a barn with stalls and an arena and round pen in the shared amenity area, so individual owners would not need to keep their horses on their 1-acre lots. Most of the horse owners I find looking for property imagine having their horse in their own backyard, or having miles of trails to ride. However, if you were more of a competition rider and would be needing to train and then take your horse to shows on the weekends, Puu Lani Ranch might work for you.

There are four vacant lots, 1 to 1-1/2 acres in size, listed at $315,000 – $365,000. There is also one home for sale at Puu Lani Ranch, with lovely ocean views, offered for $2,500,000.

Looking for a Facilities with an Existing Equine Assisted Learning and Therapy Business?

Some of you may remember a previous listing of mine that once housed Kohala Youth Ranch. I completed my own certification from EAGALA (Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association) there.

The coconut wireless and social media are buzzing with news that another ranch that is one of the key providers of equine assisted services for youth and veterans on the Big Island is looking for a new owner. The family would prefer to find a qualified party to purchase and continue to operate their non-profit along with purchasing the land, homes and facilities.

Always happy to discuss options to meet particular goals of horse owners looking for property on the Big Island!